Source: File: Steinbach.jpg,
2015. An Alsace town captured by the French: Steinbach - The church and Cure's
House, used as a French Field Hospital. From the archives of the Illustrated
London News. Places That Have Made History: "Plug Street, " and Other
Centres . 4 January 1915. [online] (updated 1 January 2015) Available at:<
http://www.illustratedfirstworldwar.com/item/places-that-have-made-history-plug-street-and-other-centres-iln0-1915-0403-0015-001/>[Accessed:
5 January 2015].
In Haut-Rhin Region of French
Alsace,
Stand the Palatine forest and the
low
Ranges of the Vosges Mountains -
Of a northerly border, to form the
line
Boundary of France and Germany.
From the Vosges Mountains flows
The river Thur, through towns of
Cernay
And Thann - with its history of
sorcery.
And in that commune lay Steinbach
Whose capture is accounted in Matin.
At Thann, on night of 29 December,
A French force crossed the river
Thur.
With dawn breaking, this next day
Saw a duel ensued between artillery
Of French and German guns -
Situated on heights of Wattweiler -
Concealed within a forest of fir,
came
Returned fire of posted enemy gunnery.
Flying reconnaissance was proved
Impossible by the forests density -
The French patrols alternatively,
Beat their way into the woods -
ready
For enemy ambush, chasseurs infantry
Pushed on through – by close of day,
Three fourths of
enemy guns lay
Out of action - the rest had
retreated.
By the opening day of 31 December,
The French had taken the crests lying
Above Steinbach – for over 48 hours
The battle had ensued about the
village
Of Steinbach – the outpost of
Cernay.
A message of parle was taken – a
reply
Within one hour of a Commander's
word,
Said German forces did not consider
They were surrounded – the Sennheim
Road was open for a possible
retreat -
That while the troops might be
killed,
An Emperors army would not
surrender.
By making escape a hostage had said,
In previous evening had been
executed
Thirty Landsturm soldiers, who were
Not Steadfast – having been openly
shot,
Out on the village square of
Steinbach.
The village would have to be taken
back,
House by house – the trees that had
Given German cover from the 75’s
would
Allow Infantry cover to reach
Steinbach.
Forming columns the French moved on
Edging their way towards the village.
Then the German 77’s fired, the
ground
Being against them - German advanced
Posts were in houses - at the village
Edge to where the Senegalais Tirailleurs
Reached within 200 yards – a
mitrailleuse
Volley gun, emplaced in the church
tower,
Then fired out, at the edge of the
wood.
In a crossroads stood a small farm,
Where defence was held, and placed
A line of civilian hostages – one
woman,
Could be seen, her hands tied behind
Her back – the French soldiers in fury
Of this, stormed forward with rifle
And bayonet - despite the enemy fire
-
With losses they enemy were taken,
The farm door was reached at 1 p.m.
As the Farm was taken by French hands,
This proved a link to Steinbach's
centre -
With row of barns where a machine
gun
Was prepared - with granary ventilation
Holes in walls gave good views of
enemy
Trenches - Both surveyed the main
street,
Where the enemy were then situated.
A sharp shooter of the company,
Concealed himself in a close by
shed.
In the village square guns were
situated,
Firing to the road where reserves
And reinforcements started to arrive -
One by one the crack shot aimed,
Taking out the gunners one by one -
Providing time for the French advance.
While the Germans lost valuable time,
To replace their fallen gunners.
Fighting moved into evening - each
side
Locked by frustration, to gain
advances -
Cottages become fortresses – the
lanes
About, become places of ambush walls -
And doors that are taken became targets,
For sudden hand to hand fighting.
The battle stopped with night’s
arrival -
Under this cover a volunteer
succeeded
In setting fire to a stable, where
German
Forces sheltered - the enemy fled by
light
Of flames as mitrailleuses opened fire.
Within an hour the Germans attempted
To return the gesture, with
incendiary
Bombs thrown on French possessed barn-
Yet with a wind from the west,
Flames were thrown back on the enemy.
A reverse of their attack forced them
To abandon their first trench line -
The fire then fiercely spread, to reach
An ammunition reserve to explode -
Onward the fighting skirmishes
continued.
by Jamie Mann.
Anon.,1915.
Fierce
Battle of Steinbach – Three days’ Fighting – Village Stormed. The Daily Telegraph, [online] 1 Jan. P.9. Col.2. Available at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11323632/Daily-Telegraph-January-6-1915.html [Accessed: 6 January 2015].
Mann, J., 2015. 100 years Ago - Poems by Jamie Mann. [letter] (Personal communication,
6 January 2015).
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ww1-archive/11323632/Daily-Telegraph-January-6-1915.html
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